Keep Dreaming

Someone recently asked me what my dream job is. It's a question that always catches me off guard. In the past, the list of Jenna's Dream Jobs has included (but certainly not been limited to):

- Illustrator
- Fine Art Professor
- Baker
- Visual Merchandiser
- Fashion PR Girl
- Magazine Editor
- Test Kitchen Cook
- Restaurant Owner
- Fashion Designer
- Marine Biologist
- Marketing Analyst
- Nursery Owner (as in plants)
- UNICEF something
- Non-profit Founder
- etc. etc.

I've bounced around quite a bit, and it's safe to say I haven't settled in to anything yet. Getting older makes me worry a little bit about finding something I really love. Some people are lucky enough to find that passion early, others not until much later in life. I often wonder which one of those two people I am.

However, the most recent person who posed that question to me - "What is your dream job?" - got me thinking. The most current answer has something to do with food. What it is, I'm not quite sure. But my instant reflex screamed "food!"

And that's the truth. I love food. I love to cook food - even if I'm not hungry. I love to eat food - rather than shop my way through NYC, I now eat my way through it. I read about food. I watch food tv (not a lot of Food Network though). I'm the only person I know who loves grocery shopping - I'm interested in everything from the colors, tastes, textures, and even packaging. I like watching other people cook. But how do I channel any of it into a legitimate occupation? Isn't that the trick here? Doing something you love AND making enough money to get by (or more)? I could spend all day reading cook books, but I don't think I can make a living pouring over recipes on my couch. If I can, please let me know. PLEASE.

Until then, I work an office job and think A LOT about food in my spare time.